Smart Cities Brown Bag Lunch Discussions

12 - 1 p.m.

The Smart Cities vernacular has become a prolific phrase in our community over the last year. Join us to consider the various issues raised by the development of wired and integrated cities.

All events are completely free and open to the public. No registration is required. People can come and attend any and all events.

Schedule:

September 11, 2019

What’s So Smart About a City?

Dr. Christopher Hudspeth

The term “Smart City” is fairly ubiquitous in the media. But what does it really mean? This presentation cuts through the glitz to reveal the not so secret heart of a Smart City.

September 18, 2019

Sex, Drugs, and Candy Crush

Dr. Ignacio Rivero Covelo

This talk explores how sex, drugs, and video games target the brain’s reward system and shows the potential that these new rewards have for encouraging maladaptive behaviors.

September 25, 2019

The Emerald City: Capital, Climate, and the "Smart" City

Dr. Ross Astoria

This workshop explores the emergence of the ideal of the green, resilient cosmopolity as a governance object for smart cities in the age of rapid and dangerous global warming.

October 9, 2019

Interacting with Humans and Nonhumans in a Smart City

Dr. Theresa Castor

In a Smart City, technology is no longer just a tool used to facilitate interaction--technology itself is an interaction participant. This presentation explores the different forms of human and nonhuman interactions in a Smart City and the implications of these for relationships

October 16, 2019

The Role of Social Media in Shaping Our Perceptions of Safety

Dr. Aubri McDonald

Social media increases our awareness of what's going on in the world but it can also generate unwarranted fears about victimization. From crime alert texts to tweets about the latest mass shooting, social media engagement can threaten our sense of security and alter the way we interact with others.

October 23, 2019

Brain Computer Interfaces: Taking Thoughts Out of the Human Body to Interact Within Smart Cities

Dr. Melissa Gregg

Recent Brain Computer Interfaces (BCI) developments have been able to utilize human thoughts to control machines and translate human thoughts to communication signals to other humans. This talk will describe the basic technology underlying BCI and the future of using human thoughts to control devices and navigate within a smart city environment.

October 30, 2019

Blockchain is at the Downtown of Smart Cities

Dr. Zaid Altahat

Public and private sectors are using blockchain technology to implement smart cities. Blockchain is the technology behind cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin. But it's much more than just that. Dubai & Moscow have used it to provide more secure solutions for their smart cities.

November 6, 2019

E-Sports: The World’s New Favorite Pastime?

Dr. Dirk Baldwin

Data analytics, e-tickets, and fantasy sports are examples of how digitalization has already changed sports and the fan experience. What is next? 232 million online viewers and 174,000 arena viewers recently watched competitors play electronic sports (Esports). Are Esports the next step in sports evolution?

November 13, 2019

Big Data: What Is It and What Might It Mean for Our Future?

Dr. John Ward

"Big data" refers to the large and increasing volume of data available in today's connected/networked world through the Internet of Things (IoT). Big data has tremendous potential to inform decision-making and change the world as we know it, but does this future come with a cost in terms of individual freedom, privacy, and security?

November 20, 2019

Smart Cities as Platforms for Cooperation

Dr. Peggy James

Individuals Compete, Connectives Cooperate, Collectives Collaborate. These political, social, and economic relations have important impacts on identity, equity, and development, and technology offers the opportunity to move from one level to the next.